Harmony of Life
Karma and jñāna can never be combined,
like oil and water, they do not mix.
Karma binds through doing,
jñāna frees through knowing.
Karma and upāsanā
on the other hand
must go together,
like diet and exercise,
each complementing the other.
Diet alone may reduce weight.
Exercise alone may tone muscle.
Together, the body is light and strong.
Kevala karma leads to a lower heaven.
Kevala upāsanā leads to a higher heaven.
Combined, they extend one’s stay in that realm.
Two forms of upāsanā are taught:
Kārya Brahma Upāsanā and
Kāraṇa Brahma Upāsanā.
Practiced individually,
each yields its own result.
Kārya Brahma Upāsanā,
meditation upon the manifest,
refines the body and mind,
making them light.
Kāraṇa Brahma Upāsanā,
meditation upon the unmanifest,
absorbs one into the bliss of unknowing.
Practiced together,
they bring harmony.
Harmony between
self and world,
person and family,
family and society,
nation and humanity,
humanity and all life.
Live, therefore, in harmony
with all that is.

Good summary of this morning’s class.
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